The TON (The Open Network) team is set to unveil an innovative layer-2 payment network as an integral component of its comprehensive roadmap for 2025. This initiative has been highlighted in a recent update provided by TON Core, which outlined that the development of the layer-2 Payment Network is one of the primary objectives targeted for the first half of 2025. This ambitious project is designed to significantly enhance the scalability and functionality of the TON blockchain.
One of the pivotal elements of this initiative is the planned upgrade to the Accelerator mainnet. This upgrade aims to implement several important changes, including the optimization of shardchain tracking, which will improve the efficiency and speed of transaction processing on the network. Additionally, the upgrade will introduce a crucial modification in the way validation is handled within the network. Specifically, the validation process will be divided into two distinct roles: collators and validators. The collator will be responsible for gathering transactions and generating candidates for new blocks, while the validators will focus on the critical task of validating these blocks to ensure their integrity and correctness.
Further along the development timeline, the TON team is also dedicating resources to a variety of essential research initiatives. Notably, they are exploring the implementation of sidechains, which will allow for greater flexibility and scalability within the network. Moreover, the team is working on enabling trustless bridging between Toncoin (TON) and Bitcoin (BTC) through a feature known as TON teleport. This will facilitate seamless transactions between these two prominent cryptocurrencies. Alongside these technical enhancements, improvements to the user interface are also on the agenda, making the platform more accessible and user-friendly.
To bolster its capabilities and foster greater interoperability, TON is actively collaborating with key partners in the blockchain space, including Axelar, LayerZero, and Wormhole. These partnerships aim to create a more interconnected ecosystem that enhances the overall utility of the TON blockchain. In a significant announcement, Telegram revealed that TON Connect will be the primary gateway for integrating the TON network with Telegram mini-apps, further solidifying the relationship between the two platforms and expanding the potential use cases for TON.
The layer-2 Payment Network stands out as a top priority for the TON Core team, reflecting their commitment to advancing the TON blockchain’s scalability. The original TON whitepaper laid out the vision for a payment channel network, which is often likened to the “Lightning Network” of TON. This network is designed to facilitate instantaneous money transfers between various nodes, thereby enhancing the speed and efficiency of transactions within the ecosystem.
The roadmap emphasizes the TON Core’s dedication to enabling not only instant transfers but also micro-commissions and straightforward asset swaps. The Payment Network serves as the essential layer-2 infrastructure needed to accomplish these objectives effectively. As of now, the Payment Network has progressed to the Beta stage, with a working prototype already developed. However, the team has indicated that it has yet to undergo comprehensive testing and auditing to ensure its reliability and security.
Looking ahead, the development plans include rigorous testing of the prototype, along with the incorporation of support for additional currencies and the facilitation of various types of swaps. This ongoing commitment to development and enhancement is indicative of TON’s vision for a robust and versatile payment network that can meet the evolving needs of its users.
For more updates on TON’s innovations, including recent features such as NFT card customization introduced by MyTonWallet, stay tuned for further announcements.